Insect exterminating device



July 10, 1962 R. M COY ETAL INSECT EXTERMINATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 INVENTORS Thomas akfkrsozz Umplzrefl JamesRoyMc flay 3,043,4la6 HEECT EXTE- MTNATHJG DEVEQE James Roy McCoy, 3102 filth 32., Lubbock, Tex, an-

T'homas Jefferson Umphres, Lubbock, Tex; said Urnphres assignor to said McCoy Filed Feb. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 174,627 tlla ms. c1. 43-111 This invention relates to extermination of insects and, more particularly, to a mechanical device to crush red ants.

Much of the world is plagued with ants. This invention is particularly concerned with that type of ant which lives within the ground in a nest having one central outlet. This invention involves a mechanical, exterminating de vice which is placed over the nest and crushes each ant as it emerges from the nest.

An object of this invention is to exterminate ants.

Another object is to provide a mechanical exterminator for ants.

Further objects are to provide such a device that has a long life, no operating cost, no danger in use, and no maintenance problems.

Still further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention.

F IG. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

As may be seen in the accompanying drawings, the device has base 10, which sits flat on the ground. Circular opening 12 through the base '10 is placed over an excavated, underground ant nest. This makes it necessary for ants leaving or arriving at their nest to crawl over the base and, particularly, across bevel 14 thereof.

Tube 16 is supported by legs 18 on the base 10. The tube 16 is coaxial with the opening 12. Bracket 20 is mounted for rotation about the axis of the tube 16. The bracket 20 is bifurcated, and on one leg there is mounted a vane 22 so that the other leg is always facing the direction of the wind.

The other leg of the bifurcated bracket 20 includes journal 24 through which is mounted horizontal shaft 26. On the outboard side of the horizontal shaft 26 there is mounted windmill 28. Thus, it may be seen that the Windmill 28 is ultimately mounted upon base 10. As the wind blows, the vane 22 causes the bracket 20 to face the Windmill 28 in the wind; and the wind will turn the windmill 28, thus rotating the horizontal shaft 26.

Vertical shaft 30 is mounted for rotation within the tube 16. On the top of the vertical shaft 30 there is horizontal plate 32. Rubber ring 34 is mounted on the inboard end of the horizontal shaft 26. It is maintained in place by nut 36. The ring 34 rests on horizontal plate 32. Thus, it may be seen that rotation of the horizontal shaft 26 causes rotation of vertical shaft 30 due to the friction of ring 34 upon plate 32.

Coupling 38 is loosely telescoped over vertical shaft 30 and pinned thereto. scoped within the coupling 38 and loosely pinned thereto. The other end of the L-shaped member 40 is approximately parallel to the bevel 14 and extends radially from the axis of the opening 12. This end of the L-shaped member 40 is also bifurcated. Cone frustum roller 4-2 is journaled for rotation about one of the bifurcated legs L-shaped member 40 is teleof the L-shaped member 40. The cone frustum roller 42 rests upon the bevel 14 and rolls along the bevel 14. The other bifurcation of the L-shaped member 40 has scraper 44 attached thereto. The windmill 28 rotates the horizontal shaft 26 in such a way that the vertical shaft 39 rotates so that the scraper 44 follows behind the roller 42 as it rotates making it possible for the scraper 44 to remove debris which may be on the bevel 14.

3,043,@% Patented July 10, 1962 it will be noted in operation thatthe wind blows and that the frustum 42 rotates on the bevel 14, crushing any insect which may be on the bevel 14 at the time. The bevel i4 is of suficient width so that, normally, a rotation of roller 42 is made before an ant has time to traverse the bevel l4. The roller 42 is of sufiicient weight to crush the ant. The scraper 44 removes the ebris of the crushed bodies of the ants. The L member 49 is coupled loosely to the vertical shaft 30 so that, if the scraper 44 fails to scrape some debris from the bevel 14, the L member 4% can wobble, permitting the cone frustum 42 to wobble as it rolls over irregularities.

it will be noted that the device is sturdy and has few weaiing parts. it is quite inexpensive to manufacture; and after one ant nest has been exterminated by its use, it may be moved readily to another. If there are no ant nests around, it can be stored readily for future use.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in construction, material, and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A mechanism for exterminating crawling insects comprising:

(a) a base adapted to rest on the ground around a nest of the crawling insects,

(b) said base having an opening therein,

(c) a member mounted on the base for rotation about the axis of the opening,

(d) a roller on the member,

(e) said roller journaled for rotation on the member to roll around the edge of said opening,

(f) a windmill mounted upon said base, and

(g) means for rotating said member responsive to rotation of said Windmill.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said roller is in the shape of the frustum of a cone.

3. A mechanism for exterminafing crawling insects comprising:

(a) a base adapted to fit on the earth around a nest of said insects,

(b) said base having an opening therein,

(0) a beveled area surrounding said opening,

(d) a tube supported above said base,

(e) the axis of the tube being coaxial with the opening,

(7) a bracket mounted for rotation about the axis of the tube at the top of the tube,

(g) vane mounted on said bracket for orienting the bracket with regard to the wind,

(h) awindmilljournaled to the bracket,

(i) a vertical shaft mounted for rotation in the tube,

(j) means for rotating the vertical shaft responsive to rotation of the windmill,

(k) a roller shaped like a frustum of a cone on said bevel, and

(I) an L-shaped member,

(m) said roller mounted for rotation on the L-shaped member,

(n) said L-shaped member coupled to the lower end of said vertical shaft.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein a scraper is also mounted on said L-shaped member and in contact with said bevel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 137,336- Ames Apr. 1, 1873 595,750 Zimmerman Dec. 21, 1897 1,953,677 Glover Apr. 3, 1934 

